Lundin Reports Dry Well in North Sea

Sweden's Lundin Petroleum reported Friday that its wildcat well 16/1-17, targeting the Jorvik prospect in the North Sea, has come up dry.

The well, located approximately 3 miles east of well 16/1-8 (the Edvard Grieg discovery well), was drilled with the objective of proving petroleum in Pre-Jurassic sandstone and conglomerate rocks.

Liquid samples acquired from the well did show mobile oil in a dense reservoir section. But despite core samples taken from this section that showed oil, Lundin said it has not been possible to establish an oil gradient and the well has been classified as dry.

Lundin, as operator, has a 50-percent working interest in production license PL338, where the Jorvik target is located. Partners include Wintershall Norge, with a 30-percent interest, and OMV, which has a 20-percent interest.

Well 16/1-17 was drilled by the Transocean Winner (DW semisub) rig, which will now proceed to production license 036 D where Marathon Oil Norge is the operator.